IllustrationTOOK MY 2002 NEON SXT IN FOR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY WORK IN 2004...FIRST CHRYSLER DENIED THE CLAIM STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED (HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY!). HAD MY SPEED SENSORS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2005 & AM TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN TOMORROW TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN. *JB
2002 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
300–25K
3025–50K
2450–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
5150K+
113 reports with mileage · 60 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports
Power Train complaints
36 reportsMY CAR WAS WORKING FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND MADE LOUD NOISE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY TELL MY THROTTLE REGULATOR BOX BLEW UP. MY CAR HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. I DRIVE IT 10 MILES TO AND FROM WORK. NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AS WHEN THE BOX BLEW UP IT SEND SHARDS OF METAL THROUGH MY TRANSMISSION. *JB
ON FEB 14, 2006 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR STARTED MAKING DINGING NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND I HEARD A BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AS I PULLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR STOPPED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY RAN A CHECK TH…
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ON FEB 14, 2006 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR STARTED MAKING DINGING NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND I HEARD A BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AS I PULLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR STOPPED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY RAN A CHECK THROUGH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM. WHAT THEY FINALLY FOUND WAS THAT THE RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE (THAT THE RADIATOR SEAL HAD FAILED) AND LEAKED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO MIX. SINCE THE CAR IS A 2002 AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 YRS AND 3 MONTHS WITH ONLY 68,348 MILES ON THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY STATED, BECAUSE THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IT (THE RADIATOR) WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRYSLER ON THE PHONE, THAT INDEED THE RADIATOR IS ONE OF THEIR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR AND ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED (AS STATED BY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP), AND IT WAS FACTOR FOR THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS ALSO THE MAIN FACTOR THAT RESULTED IN THE CAR STOPPING WHILE BE DRIVEN ON A BUSY ROADWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH. *NM
2002 DODGE NEON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING OFF EXIT AT VERY SLOW SPEED WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR -WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED CAR HAD 40,000 MILES. *NM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PANEL LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. *BF THE DAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR WHAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT WAS A FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $825.00 TO REPAIR THE INSIDE CLUSTER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN…
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ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PANEL LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. *BF THE DAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR WHAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT WAS A FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $825.00 TO REPAIR THE INSIDE CLUSTER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RESERVOIRS, IN ADDITION TO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RATTLING, THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BELT AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
ON SEPTEMBER 24,2004 MY TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, CAUSING MY CAR TO DRIVE INEFFICIENTLY. IT IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER PEOPLE'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NEONS. DODGE IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME FOR FIXING IT. THIS IS STILL UNDER A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT ARE TRYING GET AROUND…
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ON SEPTEMBER 24,2004 MY TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, CAUSING MY CAR TO DRIVE INEFFICIENTLY. IT IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER PEOPLE'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NEONS. DODGE IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME FOR FIXING IT. THIS IS STILL UNDER A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT ARE TRYING GET AROUND FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD OTHER EXPERT TELL ME THAT AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT THING ARE WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I AM BRINGING IT BACK TO PREMIER DODGE TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 28.*AK
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *NM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO PASSING GEAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A TRUCK WAS BEHIND HIM AND HE NEEDED TO GET MORE SPEED, SO HE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, THEN IT STALLED. HE KEPT TELLING THE DEALER ABOUT…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO PASSING GEAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A TRUCK WAS BEHIND HIM AND HE NEEDED TO GET MORE SPEED, SO HE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, THEN IT STALLED. HE KEPT TELLING THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AGAIN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM 65-68 MPH BACK AND FORTH. *AK THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND OR JUMP AND HAVE ALMOST RUN INTO OTHER VEHICLE'S. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE VEHICLE TO BE REMEDIED OR REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
FIRST ENGINE LIGHTS STARTS TO COME ON - SECOND NOTICE THAT ONE MORNING CAR STARTS TO MAKE LOUD SQEAKING NOISE - THIRD TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC (49000MI) AND HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG - HE REPLACES ENTIRE FRONT...AXLE, BOOTS, ETC. CAR STILL MAKES SAME NOISE AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO FALL APART. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA06019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Nov 22, 2006 · Closed Nov 7, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
PE06028 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 28, 2006 · Closed Nov 22, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.